His greatest accomplishment came after his greatest disappointment. One of the founding fathers of the Renaissance, Filippo Brunelleschi was more than an Italian designer. Brunelleschi made his mark in architecture and construction. In his early years, sculpting was Brunelleschi’s passion. But after being passed over for a major commission, he set his sights on architecture, and changed the landscape of Italy as it is known today. Brunelleschi’s most prominent contribution, the dome of Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, was the first of its kind, paving the way for bigger and more elaborate domes to come. His invention of machines to facilitate the construction of the dome, allowed future structures to not only be imagined, but to be erected as well. With his imagination, understanding of linear perspective, focus on geometric principles, and intellect for mathematics, Brunelleschi influenced the rise of modern science and architecture worldwide.
About the Book On the Roof of Heaven is a tale of five generations. It moves from Ireland and Russia to the United States. A tale of the 20th century, it covers many aspects: ethnic differences, racism, the Depression, civil rights, NYC from the 50’s to the 90’s, mental health and its multitude of problems. The Vietnam War plays a vital part. Cancer, Catholicism, and being a classical musician in the late 20th century in NYC are a major part of it. The book reflects many of the conflicts we face today. Music is very important. There is a musical playlist that accompanies the prose. The story of a brother and sister navigating their diverse paths. About the Author Alicia O’Malley Fraguada has spent fifty years of her life as a classical guitarist. This book is a project that took twenty years to complete. She got her MM from the Yale School of Music and did her Carnegie Recital Hall debut in 1989. She has been married for 32 years and has two adult children and three grandchildren. She continues to play for herself and writes. Though she taught music for over 35 years, she also has a Masters in Reading from SCSU.
Offers a fresh appraisal of the ascent of Christ to the third heaven in 2 Corinthians 12, proposing that it records a failed, not a successful, ascent into heaven.
Imprisoned, tortured, and forced into exile, he fought to clear his name. Instead, it would be misunderstood forever. Born into a modest family in fifteenth-century Florence, Niccolò Machiavelli navigated his way through the violence and political uncertainty of Renaissance Italy. Recognized for his keen mind and understanding of human nature and government, Machiavelli courted kings and popes as the leading ambassador for his beloved Republic. But it was a time of treachery, collusion, and war. Wrongfully accused and convicted, Machiavelli lost everything when the Medici returned to power, except his mind and his quill. Hoping to write his way back into Florentine society, he drew upon his experiences and the villains of his time in his novellas, histories, plays, and political treatises such as the Discourses on Livy, The Art of War, and his irreverent masterpiece, The Prince, earning his place in history as the father of modern political science.
This visually stunning and carefully researched book encompasses some of the most significant Catholic churches of Chicago, addressing both their architectural and theological significance. Color photographs beautifully illustrate the insightful text. It is a book suitable for those interested in local history, architectural achievement, theological awareness, or those who simply desire to glory in the visual beauty of Chicago's historic churches.
For the first time in English, Stephen Earle tells the epic story of Nakamura Tempu, one of Japan’s most inspirational twentieth-century thinkers and teachers, whose mind-body approach to personal transformation influenced hundreds of thousands, including prominent leaders in government, industry, and the arts. Earle chronicles Tempu’s origins in the samurai tradition, his genius for martial arts, and his work in Manchuria as a spy during the Russo-Japan War of 1904–1905. He relates how, after escaping a Russian firing squad, Tempu contracted tuberculosis; how he embarked on a search for a cure that led to the halls of Columbia University, the salons of Paris, and the foothills of the Himalayas, where he practiced yoga under the tutelage of an Indian guru; and how he not only regained his health but also underwent a spiritual transformation. This transformation laid the groundwork for the secular and practical methodology for self-realization and the cultivation of will that Tempu developed and disseminated to the sick and socially disenfranchised, as well as to princes and prime ministers. Over the course of nine decades, Tempu’s philosophy of mind-body unification has charted a clear and accessible path to mastery over hardship and the ability to meet life’s challenges head-on. Yet, the man, his story, his teachings, and his legacy remain almost unknown outside of Japan—until now. In addition to demonstrating how Tempu’s teachings were significant to Japan’s reconstruction and economic rise following the devastation of World War II, Heaven’s Wind is also an engaging historical narrative, an account of personal transformation, and a clear guide to the practical philosophy of mind-body unity.
Winner, Victorian Society in America Book Awards A colorful tale of a singular New York City neighborhood and the personalities who make it special To outsiders or East Siders, Riverside Park and Riverside Drive may not have the star status of Fifth Avenue or Central Park West. But at the city’s westernmost edge, there is a quiet and beauty like nowhere else in all of New York. There are miles of mansions and monuments, acres of flora, and a breadth of wildlife ranging from Peregrine falcons to goats. It’s where the Gershwins and Babe Ruth once lived, William Randolph Hearst ensconced his paramour, and Amy Schumer owns a penthouse. Told in the uniquely personal voice of a longtime resident, Heaven on the Hudson is the only New York City book that features the history, architecture, and personalities of this often overlooked neighborhood, from the eighteenth century through the present day. Combining an extensively researched history of the area and its people with an engaging one-on-one guide to its sights, author Stephanie Azzarone sheds new light on the initial development of Riverside Park and Riverside Drive, the challenges encountered—from massive boulders to “maniacs”—and the reasons why Riverside Drive never became the “new Fifth Avenue” that promoters anticipated. From grand “country seats” to squatter settlements to multi-million-dollar residences, the book follows the neighborhood’s roller-coaster highs and lows over time. Readers will discover a trove of architectural and recreational highlights and hidden gems, including the Drive’s only freestanding privately owned villa, a tomb that’s not a tomb, and a sweet memorial to an eighteenth-century child. Azzarone also tells the stories behind Riverside’s notable and forgotten residents, including celebrities, murderers, a nineteenth-century female MD who launched the country’s first anti-noise campaign, and an Irish merchant who caused a scandal by living with an Indian princess. While much has been written about Central Park, little has focused exclusively on Riverside Drive and Riverside Park until now. Heaven on the Hudson is dedicated to sharing this West Side neighborhood’s most special secrets, the ones that, without fail, bring both pleasure and peace in a city of more than 8 million.
While living in Singapore in 1996, Karen Bauer, from Iowa, became ill and felt darkness descend upon her family. When the illness worsened and many frightening events began to occur, she consistently prayed to God and all of heaven for help. After she had a traumatic brain injury in 2003, her spiritual vision was opened and she felt as though she was living in a nightmare while being fully awake. As a last resort in 2004, she sought help from a spiritual healer and hypnotherapist from Hong Kong named Mabel. During her first meeting with her, a huge powerful angel appeared. From that moment on, she was changed forever. Hypnotherapy uncovered a near-death experience and severe head trauma from her childhood that catapulted her into these spiritual realms at an early age. The following years were saturated with many trips to heaven for lessons and healing and numerous angelic visitations. She was healed and she discovered her true soul purpose. She longed to tell everyone she knew about what she experienced in heaven, but fear kept her silent. Now, almost ten years after her first journey to heaven, she feels called to share everything that she learned and experienced with all of mankind! In 100 Things I learned in Heaven, Karen shares all of the lessons she learned from God and the angels, describes in full detail everything that she felt and saw while ascending to and in heaven, and discloses what she learned about the darkness. She believes that if everyone knew how much love and help they have in heaven and how all of heaven is just waiting for us to ask for assistance in every situation, it would change their lives forever and they would be free to live with increased hope, trust, power, and joy
